Mitchell K. - RC - FA12

Reformer's Convocation Resume

Character: Father Theobald Mathew

• Began movement on April 10th 1838.
• Called the Cork Total Abstinence Society.
• Was strongly against alcohol.
• Had a huge success in his home country, Ireland.
• Affected 3 million people at its height in Ireland.
• Drastically lowered crime rates from around 1837 to 1845.
• Was welcomed to America as a distinguished guest.
• Gained 600,000 followers in America.
• He was supposedly pro-Abolition but did not publicly announce it for fear of his own movement.
• The Knights of Father Mathew was the American faction of his temperance movement.
• Many Americans at this time resorted to alcohol because of various other reformations.
• The increasing alcoholism was linked to domestic violence.
• The movement was heavily opposed by brewers and distillers and put many out of business.
• It was a vital role in the religious reformation of the time because it supported the holiness of the Sabbath
• Other advocates of the movement were Lyman Beecher and Rev. John Edgar.